In a landmark achievement for India’s burgeoning semiconductor industry, Union Minister for Electronics & Information Technology, Railways, and Information & Broadcasting, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, inaugurated two state-of-the-art chip design facilities by Renesas Electronics India Private Limited on May 13, 2025, in Noida and Bengaluru. These facilities mark a historic milestone as India’s first design centers dedicated to pioneering 3-nanometer (nm) chip technology, positioning the country at the forefront of global semiconductor innovation.
A New Era in Chip Design
Speaking at the inauguration, Shri Vaishnaw emphasized the significance of the 3nm chip design, describing it as a “new frontier” in India’s technological journey. “We have successfully worked on 7nm and 5nm designs in the past, but 3nm is a game-changer. It places India among an elite group of nations capable of designing next-generation chips,” he said. The 3nm technology represents a leap in efficiency, performance, and miniaturization, critical for powering advanced applications in artificial intelligence, 5G, autonomous vehicles, and high-performance computing.
The minister highlighted that these centers are part of a broader strategy to build a comprehensive semiconductor ecosystem in India. This ecosystem spans chip design, fabrication, assembly, testing, marking, and packaging (ATMP), as well as supply chains for equipment, chemicals, and gases. He cited growing global confidence in India’s semiconductor potential, referencing discussions at international forums like Davos, where industry giants such as Applied Materials and Lam Research have expressed interest in significant investments in India.
Building a Robust Semiconductor Ecosystem
The Noida facility, a flagship semiconductor design center in Uttar Pradesh, is a strategic step toward creating a pan-India network of innovation hubs that tap into the country’s vast talent pool. Shri Vaishnaw underscored the government’s commitment to fostering industry-ready talent, announcing the launch of a new semiconductor learning kit. This kit, designed to enhance hands-on hardware skills, will be distributed to over 270 academic institutions already equipped with advanced Electronic Design Automation (EDA) software tools under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM). “By integrating software and hardware training, we are preparing engineers who are not just theoretically sound but practically equipped to meet industry demands,” he noted.
The minister also praised the collaborative efforts of the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC) and the ISM team for their role in advancing India’s semiconductor ambitions. He attributed the rapid progress in the sector to the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, who has prioritized semiconductors as a cornerstone of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) initiative. “In just three years, India has transformed from a nascent player to an emerging global hub in semiconductors, with a trajectory for sustainable, long-term growth,” Shri Vaishnaw said.
Rising Demand for Semiconductors
The minister highlighted the exponential growth in demand for semiconductors across diverse sectors, including smartphones, laptops, servers, medical equipment, defense systems, and automobiles. “As India emerges as a manufacturing hub for electronic products, the need for advanced chips will only increase. These design centers are a timely step to meet that demand while fostering innovation,” he added.
Renesas Electronics’ Commitment to India
Hidetoshi Shibata, CEO and MD of Renesas Electronics, echoed the minister’s optimism, emphasizing India’s strategic importance to the company. “India is a cornerstone of our global operations, contributing significantly to embedded systems, software, and system-level innovation,” Shibata said. He outlined Renesas’ commitment to building end-to-end semiconductor capabilities in India, from architecture design to testing, with additional facilities planned in Hyderabad alongside Noida and Bengaluru.
Renesas is also supporting India’s academic and startup ecosystem through government-backed initiatives like the Chips to Startup (C2S) Programme and the Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme. Shibata noted that the company is collaborating with over 250 academic institutions and numerous startups to nurture talent and drive innovation. He highlighted the strategic alignment between India and Japan, stating, “India’s talent strength and our shared interests will help redefine the global semiconductor lifecycle.”
Context: India’s Semiconductor Journey
This development builds on India’s recent strides in the semiconductor sector. In 2022, the government launched the India Semiconductor Mission to bolster domestic chip design and manufacturing capabilities. Since then, India has attracted significant investments, including Micron Technology’s $2.75 billion semiconductor assembly and testing facility in Gujarat and Tata Electronics’ collaboration with Taiwan’s Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation for a fabrication plant. The inauguration of the 3nm design centers further cements India’s position as a hub for cutting-edge semiconductor research and development.
Previous milestones include the establishment of design centers for 7nm and 5nm chips, which laid the groundwork for India’s expertise in advanced chip technologies. The government’s focus on talent development, through initiatives like the C2S program and DLI scheme, has also created a pipeline of skilled engineers, with over 20,000 students trained in semiconductor-related fields since 2022.
Renesas Electronics: A Global Leader
Renesas Electronics, a Japan-based global leader in embedded semiconductor solutions, specializes in high-performance computing, analog and connectivity, and power management for industries such as automotive, industrial, infrastructure, and the Internet of Things (IoT). With a presence in Noida, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, Renesas is leveraging India’s talent and infrastructure to drive innovation in chip design and system solutions.
Looking Ahead
The inauguration of the 3nm chip design centers marks a pivotal moment in India’s quest to become a global semiconductor powerhouse. By combining cutting-edge infrastructure, robust government support, and strategic industry partnerships, India is not only meeting its domestic technology needs but also positioning itself as a key player in the global supply chain. As Shri Vaishnaw aptly stated, “This is not just about building chips; it’s about building a future where India leads in innovation and self-reliance.”
Last Updated on: Wednesday, May 14, 2025 4:29 pm by Ankur Srivastava | Published by: Ankur Srivastava on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 3:34 pm | News Categories: Business
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